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Notorious: A Hilarious and Suspenseful Mystery About Friendship, Conspiracy, and Adventure for Children
Keenan has lived all over the world but nowhere quite as strange as Centerlight Island, which is split between the United States and Canada. The only thing weirder than Centerlight itself is his neighbor Zarabeth, aka ZeeBee.
ZeeBee is obsessed with the island’s history as a Prohibition-era smuggling route. She’s also convinced that her beloved dog, Barney, was murdered—something Keenan finds pretty hard to believe.
Just about everyone on Centerlight is a suspect, because everyone hated Barney, a huge dog—part mastiff, part rottweiler—notorious for terrorizing the community. Accompanied by a mild-mannered new dog who is practically Barney’s opposite, ZeeBee enlists Keenan’s help to solve the mystery.
As Keenan and ZeeBee start to unravel the clues, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that dates back to Centerlight’s gangster past. The good news is that Keenan may have found the best friend he’s ever had. The bad news is that the stakes are sky-high.
And now someone is after them. . . .
ZeeBee is obsessed with the island’s history as a Prohibition-era smuggling route. She’s also convinced that her beloved dog, Barney, was murdered—something Keenan finds pretty hard to believe.
Just about everyone on Centerlight is a suspect, because everyone hated Barney, a huge dog—part mastiff, part rottweiler—notorious for terrorizing the community. Accompanied by a mild-mannered new dog who is practically Barney’s opposite, ZeeBee enlists Keenan’s help to solve the mystery.
As Keenan and ZeeBee start to unravel the clues, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that dates back to Centerlight’s gangster past. The good news is that Keenan may have found the best friend he’s ever had. The bad news is that the stakes are sky-high.
And now someone is after them. . . .
307 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2020
About the author
Gordon Korman
238 books4,660 followersGordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
January 1, 2020
Keenan and Zarabeth (ZeeBee) live in a unique town that straddles the border between Michigan and Canada. Keenan lives with his dad on the US side of the border as he recovers from tuberculosis contracted while living abroad with his mom and step-dad and ZeeBee lives with her parents on the Canadian side. The two team up to solve the mystery of a missing treasure buried by gangsters said to have lived in their town in the 1920s and 30s as well as figure out just how ZeeBee’s troublemaker, monster of a dog really died. Readers of Gordon Korman’s Ungifted and Slacker series, Restart and others will see his style in the pages of Notorious and maybe, since it is not nearly as long as those titles, reluctant readers looking for some action amidst realistic middle grade kids just like them will give it a try. After loving this one, maybe they can be encouraged to try other works by one of the best writers for middle grade readers. Highly recommended with no content reservations. Possible extension activities for teachers using this one would be having students research lighthouses, mobsters and lawmen from the 1920s and 30s and maybe even whether the town of Centerlight even exists. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.
January 11, 2020
DISCLAIMER: I received a digital review copy of NOTORIOUS via Edelweiss Above the Treeline in exchange for an honest review
Gordon Korman has been a favorite author of mine since fourth grade. Everytime he releases a new book, I get very excited to read it. So, naturally, when I found out about NOTORIOUS, I was excited. And then when I got accepted for the arc, I was even more excited.
The plot itself was something that I hadn’t really heard of before, but was definitely classic Korman.
Overall, I had a nice time.
Perfect for fans of Gordon Korman’s previous works such as MASTERMINDS and SWINDLE.
Will I be purchasing in January?
More than likely.
Gordon Korman has been a favorite author of mine since fourth grade. Everytime he releases a new book, I get very excited to read it. So, naturally, when I found out about NOTORIOUS, I was excited. And then when I got accepted for the arc, I was even more excited.
The plot itself was something that I hadn’t really heard of before, but was definitely classic Korman.
Overall, I had a nice time.
Perfect for fans of Gordon Korman’s previous works such as MASTERMINDS and SWINDLE.
Will I be purchasing in January?
More than likely.
January 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. There was one bad word, so I docked a star, but other than that, it was great!
Characters:
Keane was so much fun! His comparison of things and just yeah, he was fun!
Zeebee was hilarious! Overly dramatic but also just fun! She needs to be a writer...lol...
Barney 2 was so cute!
And as always, all the characters were nice and well done.
Language:
One use of the old term for donkey, jack with a double s on the end. It was in ZeeBee's thoughts, and I honestly don't know why. *shrugs*
Romance:
Some of the kids say Zeebee and Keane are girlfriend/boyfriend but there's nothing.
Overall:
The location was fun and hilarious! The story was intriguing and just fun! And if not for the one bad word, this would have been another perfect Korman book!
Characters:
Keane was so much fun! His comparison of things and just yeah, he was fun!
Zeebee was hilarious! Overly dramatic but also just fun! She needs to be a writer...lol...
Barney 2 was so cute!
And as always, all the characters were nice and well done.
Language:
One use of the old term for donkey, jack with a double s on the end. It was in ZeeBee's thoughts, and I honestly don't know why. *shrugs*
Romance:
Some of the kids say Zeebee and Keane are girlfriend/boyfriend but there's nothing.
Overall:
The location was fun and hilarious! The story was intriguing and just fun! And if not for the one bad word, this would have been another perfect Korman book!
June 18, 2020
Some of Gordon Korman’s books have an adventurous story hiding heartwarming nuggets of wisdom and life advice inside...and some are just silly romps almost always involving a dog. This one was in the latter category for me, and it was a little slow. ZaraBeth and Keenan search for buried treasure left behind by gangsters on their tiny little island on the border between the US and Canada. I didn’t really get very invested in any of the characters or the mystery itself, and the story wasn’t nearly as fun as some of his others. Still, the humor and sense of adventure were still there. Not my favorite of his, but an entertaining way to spend a few summer hours.
May 19, 2024
This was a pretty good book 👍
January 9, 2026
This story was very fun.
March 26, 2020
Notorious is told from the view of multiple characters. The main characters are Keenan Cardinal and Zarabeth Pice.
The book starts with Keenan sitting in a lawn chair on his Dad's yard. He isn't allowed to leave the property, because he's recovering from tuberculosis. He doesn't have to leave for anything, because it's the middle of summer.
He's very bored. He usually lives in big city's with his mom and stepdad. The town he is currently living in is called Centrelight. It has one half in the United States and the other half in Canada.
He watches a bush for so long he believes it blinks. There is actually someone behind the bush that blinked. She comes out of her hiding spot and introduces herself. Zarabeth is her full name, but she goes by ZeeBee. She has a tiny dog following her that's name is Barney Two. She doesn't pay it much attention. She doesn't like this dog as much as the first Barney very clearly.
Keenan knows most of the stuff about ZeeBee and the city of Centrelight within thirty minutes of talking to her. One of the things he learns while in conversation, is she lives in the old house of a gangster. They go on to later find the gangsters gold and find the answers to a mystery that's been waiting six months to be solved.
I recommend this book to mystery lovers.
The book starts with Keenan sitting in a lawn chair on his Dad's yard. He isn't allowed to leave the property, because he's recovering from tuberculosis. He doesn't have to leave for anything, because it's the middle of summer.
He's very bored. He usually lives in big city's with his mom and stepdad. The town he is currently living in is called Centrelight. It has one half in the United States and the other half in Canada.
He watches a bush for so long he believes it blinks. There is actually someone behind the bush that blinked. She comes out of her hiding spot and introduces herself. Zarabeth is her full name, but she goes by ZeeBee. She has a tiny dog following her that's name is Barney Two. She doesn't pay it much attention. She doesn't like this dog as much as the first Barney very clearly.
Keenan knows most of the stuff about ZeeBee and the city of Centrelight within thirty minutes of talking to her. One of the things he learns while in conversation, is she lives in the old house of a gangster. They go on to later find the gangsters gold and find the answers to a mystery that's been waiting six months to be solved.
I recommend this book to mystery lovers.
March 19, 2020
Notorious is about a boy named Keenan as he recovers from tuberculosis on a small island in between Canada and America.
Keenan usually travels around the world with his mother and his step-father as they teach at international schools. Before he came to the island, he lived in Shanghai, so he thinks that the island is incredibly boring.
Because Keenan has tuberculosis, he is always tired, so he has to stay seated for a lot of the day. One day while he is watching videos outside, a person comes into the yard and introduces herself. Her name is ZeeBee.
ZeeBee tells Keenan about her dog who she believes was killed by somebody in the town because everyone hated the dog. Keenan does not believe her at first, but eventually figures out that somebody really did kill the dog.
ZeeBee really like the idea of criminals and gangsters, so she tells Keenan about all the criminals and gangsters that lived on the island before them.
ZeeBee also believes that one of the gangsters on the island buried treasure on the island.
ZeeBee goes to the Canadian school that is on the mainland, so she does not have any friends at that school, because as soon as school ends she has to get off the mainland and back onto the island.
Keenan is also a martial artist, he practices tae kwon do. He is very good at it.
Even though I am reviewing the ebook, I read a hardcover copy of this book, I just could not find it when I searched for this book.
It eventually turns out that Keenan's martial arts instructor along with somebody else on the island is the one that killed ZeeBee's dog.
One thing that I did not understand was that it took barely anything for ZeeBee to get mad at Keenan. He went to a party, and ZeeBee got so mad at him that you would have thought he had been the one that killed her dog. I understand why she was angry, but I do not understand why she got so angry.
I liked the twist that the martial arts instructor was evil, I did not see it coming at all, and I usually figure out these mystery books before the fifth chapter.
I also liked the sense of dry humor throughout the book. It made it a lot easier to read.
I enjoyed this book very much, and would recommend it to anybody who like short mysteries.
-Sam Kuntz
Keenan usually travels around the world with his mother and his step-father as they teach at international schools. Before he came to the island, he lived in Shanghai, so he thinks that the island is incredibly boring.
Because Keenan has tuberculosis, he is always tired, so he has to stay seated for a lot of the day. One day while he is watching videos outside, a person comes into the yard and introduces herself. Her name is ZeeBee.
ZeeBee tells Keenan about her dog who she believes was killed by somebody in the town because everyone hated the dog. Keenan does not believe her at first, but eventually figures out that somebody really did kill the dog.
ZeeBee really like the idea of criminals and gangsters, so she tells Keenan about all the criminals and gangsters that lived on the island before them.
ZeeBee also believes that one of the gangsters on the island buried treasure on the island.
ZeeBee goes to the Canadian school that is on the mainland, so she does not have any friends at that school, because as soon as school ends she has to get off the mainland and back onto the island.
Keenan is also a martial artist, he practices tae kwon do. He is very good at it.
Even though I am reviewing the ebook, I read a hardcover copy of this book, I just could not find it when I searched for this book.
It eventually turns out that Keenan's martial arts instructor along with somebody else on the island is the one that killed ZeeBee's dog.
One thing that I did not understand was that it took barely anything for ZeeBee to get mad at Keenan. He went to a party, and ZeeBee got so mad at him that you would have thought he had been the one that killed her dog. I understand why she was angry, but I do not understand why she got so angry.
I liked the twist that the martial arts instructor was evil, I did not see it coming at all, and I usually figure out these mystery books before the fifth chapter.
I also liked the sense of dry humor throughout the book. It made it a lot easier to read.
I enjoyed this book very much, and would recommend it to anybody who like short mysteries.
-Sam Kuntz
January 21, 2020
I have been a Korman fan for years. He just gets better and better. This story really appealed to me because the main character lived overseas in a number of places since his mom was an international school teacher. He moves back home after he contracts TB in order to rest and heal.
The town that he lives in is on the US/Canada border so that adds interest as well. A couple of dogs (one deceased) play into the story as well. The dog owner, a girl who lives on the Canadian side of town, befriends him and then in an effort to solve the first dog's disappearance they stumble upon an even bigger mystery.
Gr 5-10.
The town that he lives in is on the US/Canada border so that adds interest as well. A couple of dogs (one deceased) play into the story as well. The dog owner, a girl who lives on the Canadian side of town, befriends him and then in an effort to solve the first dog's disappearance they stumble upon an even bigger mystery.
Gr 5-10.
June 9, 2021
While the location of the book was fun and fresh, the plot dragged for me. Most of Gordon Korman’s work has me laughing out loud at some point and I missed that with Notorious. ZeeBee started to get boring after a while. But I liked Keenan! The dog’s involvement in the mystery was fun, but mostly I felt bad for him constantly seeking approval from mean old ZeeBee.
November 7, 2020
I love that this book has a character from an International school. It offers a new perspective that is not often seen. A good mystery involving friendship and history. I thought it dragged a bit part way through but kids that like mystery, will enjoy. Grades 3/4 and up.
April 25, 2021
This was great and I was about to yell at Zeebee for being so mean to Barney(2). I totally called that Bryce was in on it he was just so sus. Also the kids don't get of the gold? They should get at LEAST one bar of gold like come on. Over al another FANTASTIC book by Gordan Korman.
December 28, 2022
Keenan is used to traveling all over the world with his mom, but when he comes down with a case of TB he's forced to settle down on a small island with his dad. The island happens to be split between Canada and the US. While he lives on the US side, ZeeBee, the quirky girl he meets, lives on the Canadian side.
ZeeBee has a fondness for all things mobster and knows all about the islands gangster history. She also talks a lot about her old dog that wreaked havoc for everyone he came in contact with. She's convinced her dog, Barney, was murdered because of his terrible ways.
I would've liked this book more if it weren't for Barney. He sounded horrendous and I would've been calling for his removal. He was a terror on the island and I didn't find it entertaining. Barney #2, ZeeBee's new little guy was pretty cute.
I liked Keenan's voice better than ZeeBee's. I actually found ZeeBee rather annoying.
Of all the Korman books I've read, this is my least favorite. I wouldn't recommend it.
ZeeBee has a fondness for all things mobster and knows all about the islands gangster history. She also talks a lot about her old dog that wreaked havoc for everyone he came in contact with. She's convinced her dog, Barney, was murdered because of his terrible ways.
I would've liked this book more if it weren't for Barney. He sounded horrendous and I would've been calling for his removal. He was a terror on the island and I didn't find it entertaining. Barney #2, ZeeBee's new little guy was pretty cute.
I liked Keenan's voice better than ZeeBee's. I actually found ZeeBee rather annoying.
Of all the Korman books I've read, this is my least favorite. I wouldn't recommend it.
July 24, 2021
Intriguing middle-grade mystery story filled with quirky and interesting characters - especially main character Keenan Cardinal, a twelve-year-old seventh grader who's back home in the USA to recuperate from tuberculosis.
Keenan was sent home from Shanghai (his mother and step-father are teachers at International schools - they move pretty much every year) to spend time at his dad's house on a half-Canadian (Ontario)/half-American (Michigan) island, called Centerlight Island. The island's lighthouse, the Prohibition-era mobster illegal activities, and a mobster's rumored hidden gold all play parts in this multi-faceted mystery story.
Keenan also attempts to solve the possible poisoning death of Barney, his Canadian friend Zarabeth's (aka ZeeBee) 15-year-old monster (a monster in every way!) of a dog.
Keenan was sent home from Shanghai (his mother and step-father are teachers at International schools - they move pretty much every year) to spend time at his dad's house on a half-Canadian (Ontario)/half-American (Michigan) island, called Centerlight Island. The island's lighthouse, the Prohibition-era mobster illegal activities, and a mobster's rumored hidden gold all play parts in this multi-faceted mystery story.
Keenan also attempts to solve the possible poisoning death of Barney, his Canadian friend Zarabeth's (aka ZeeBee) 15-year-old monster (a monster in every way!) of a dog.
March 11, 2026
I read/listened to this book because the fifth grader I work with is obsessed with Gordon Korman.
It took me awhile to get into it, especially since I found the main character a bit boring, plus I'm not crazy about alternating perspectives unless it really adds something special.
It also frustrated me that a major part of the conflict had to do with ZeeBee getting mad at Keenan and refusing to forgive him for something really minor. I get that's her personality, but I just found it really boring to read.
However, the last quarter of the book got exciting and brought the score up to a 3/5 for me. I enjoyed the murder mystery sleuthing, and the climax came together in a very delightful way. I was listening to the audiobook in my car and actually cheered at one point.
Overall, it was quite sweet, if a little bland at times. There were parts that didn't fully make sense to me, and I found it kind of cliché and predictable.
But at the same time, I know it will be a lot of kids' very first time encountering a lot of these clichés, and this is clearly written very lovingly and does not talk down to its readers. I appreciate its existence, and I understand why my student loves it.
The kid wants me to read Masterminds next, and is insistent that I'll love it. Honestly, I'm just happy that he is passionate about books (even if he would not describe himself that way) and I love that Gordon Korman writes books that make reading fun and accessible. An extremely noble goal, I think.
It took me awhile to get into it, especially since I found the main character a bit boring, plus I'm not crazy about alternating perspectives unless it really adds something special.
It also frustrated me that a major part of the conflict had to do with ZeeBee getting mad at Keenan and refusing to forgive him for something really minor. I get that's her personality, but I just found it really boring to read.
However, the last quarter of the book got exciting and brought the score up to a 3/5 for me. I enjoyed the murder mystery sleuthing, and the climax came together in a very delightful way. I was listening to the audiobook in my car and actually cheered at one point.
Overall, it was quite sweet, if a little bland at times. There were parts that didn't fully make sense to me, and I found it kind of cliché and predictable.
But at the same time, I know it will be a lot of kids' very first time encountering a lot of these clichés, and this is clearly written very lovingly and does not talk down to its readers. I appreciate its existence, and I understand why my student loves it.
The kid wants me to read Masterminds next, and is insistent that I'll love it. Honestly, I'm just happy that he is passionate about books (even if he would not describe himself that way) and I love that Gordon Korman writes books that make reading fun and accessible. An extremely noble goal, I think.
May 3, 2021
A fun treasure hunt with a nice historical subplot about the Midwest border of the U.S. and Canada.
March 19, 2022
Very engaging murder(ish) mystery for middle grades readers and slightly younger! I thought it would be too scary for my third graders, but they loved it!
April 30, 2022
I just love Gordon Korman! He has such great middle school reads.
March 21, 2023
Another fun book by Korman; but I think our two main characters got hyped in the end.
June 11, 2024
Extremely well written!
Another home-run Gordon Korman.
Another home-run Gordon Korman.
December 13, 2023
Amazing!!!
This is one of the greatest books ever!! I can totally relate to th characters, and I did not see the ending coming!! Over all amazing job Gordon!!!!
This is one of the greatest books ever!! I can totally relate to th characters, and I did not see the ending coming!! Over all amazing job Gordon!!!!
April 13, 2020
This book was AMAZING! I’ve long been a fan of Gordon Korman’s books and particularly love the Masterminds trilogy! When I checked this book out from the library a few weeks ago, I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t read any reviews, but was excited nonetheless. After all, I keep track of each release date for Korman’s books because they make me smile and laugh I feel connected to the characters in each book more than those of any author I’ve read before in the past.
Anyway, this book was nothing short of phenomenal. It was a well-written and clever mystery with great character development and an ingenious storyline. The chapters alternated between characters, and as a reader, I felt like I knew each of the people pretty well by the time I turned the last page. These were characters I would have liked to have met had they been real (especially the dogs in the book). I took my time reading so that I could savor the individual details and think about the suspects presented. I found myself wanting to visit Centerlight (Centrelight), and wishing that it was a real place. I was convinced that it had to be a real place before I looked it up, due to the detailing that Korman put in to the description.
I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say this. I believe that anyone, young or old, would thoroughly enjoy this book! It helped me get away from everything that’s happening right now in the world, even while sitting in my house and backyard. It was a pleasure to read, and I have to add that if you haven’t, Masterminds is 100% worth reading as well. I might be reading that trilogy again soon... :)
Anyway, this book was nothing short of phenomenal. It was a well-written and clever mystery with great character development and an ingenious storyline. The chapters alternated between characters, and as a reader, I felt like I knew each of the people pretty well by the time I turned the last page. These were characters I would have liked to have met had they been real (especially the dogs in the book). I took my time reading so that I could savor the individual details and think about the suspects presented. I found myself wanting to visit Centerlight (Centrelight), and wishing that it was a real place. I was convinced that it had to be a real place before I looked it up, due to the detailing that Korman put in to the description.
I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say this. I believe that anyone, young or old, would thoroughly enjoy this book! It helped me get away from everything that’s happening right now in the world, even while sitting in my house and backyard. It was a pleasure to read, and I have to add that if you haven’t, Masterminds is 100% worth reading as well. I might be reading that trilogy again soon... :)
April 13, 2020
Gordon Korman’s Notorious is a fun read as it threads together Prohibition Era history, the death of the infamous dog Barney, and quirky, adventurous characters. Korman’s choice of setting and a portrayal that brings Centerlight to life effectively adds it to the cast of characters. Such development is no small feat, but Korman perfects it in Notorious. The novel has much going for it, including eclectic characters, a compelling setting, a unique conflict, and mystery, all of which are skillfully tied together, but readers may struggle with the plot’s pacing and certain narrative choices. Suspense builds a little too slowly until the very end and random chapters told from adult perspectives unnecessarily brought readers out of Keenan and Zarabeth’s worlds. Both factors contribute to the pacing issues that detract from the quality of the great story being told. Still, readers will persist because the mysterious is tantalizing, and when they near the end, they will not be able to put the book down.
Middle grade readers will undoubtedly enjoy Notorious, and the book would have many uses. It would be a great addition to book clubs or exchanges, a worthwhile supplement for early finishers, a good summer read, or suitable for a unit that explores the Prohibition Era and its infamous gangsters. All told, the novel has something for everyone, and as a thrilling tale, it will grip students.
Middle grade readers will undoubtedly enjoy Notorious, and the book would have many uses. It would be a great addition to book clubs or exchanges, a worthwhile supplement for early finishers, a good summer read, or suitable for a unit that explores the Prohibition Era and its infamous gangsters. All told, the novel has something for everyone, and as a thrilling tale, it will grip students.
December 21, 2022
A stand alone Korman.
Keenan is recovering from TB so is staying with his dad on a Centerlight Island - a quiet island literally on the US-Canada border. Half the island is in Canada; half the island is in the United States. All of the island has a notorious gangster history. He learns about this from the first person his age he meets - Zarabeth. She is completely engrossed in the island's history and still recovering from her dog's death. She draws Keenan in and shows him the island from her perspective.
After introducing the two main characters, Korman brings in other people who live there. He shows their faults and strengths so readers feel they know them. Their interactions provide the background for the current plot. The kids are typical teens who make a wide range of decisions - good and bad. The adults also reflect the usual make-up of any small community.
Keenan and Zarabeth experience the usual ups and downs of a new friendship. As he meet other kids, she feels threatened because she feels excluded. However, Keenan is the one who finds proof that her dog really was murdered and this triggers an entire series of events that lead to them discovering the gangster's hidden treasure.
Each chapter is told from a different character's perspective. Primarily this flips between Keenan and Zarabeth but other characters offer their insights throughout.
Keenan is recovering from TB so is staying with his dad on a Centerlight Island - a quiet island literally on the US-Canada border. Half the island is in Canada; half the island is in the United States. All of the island has a notorious gangster history. He learns about this from the first person his age he meets - Zarabeth. She is completely engrossed in the island's history and still recovering from her dog's death. She draws Keenan in and shows him the island from her perspective.
After introducing the two main characters, Korman brings in other people who live there. He shows their faults and strengths so readers feel they know them. Their interactions provide the background for the current plot. The kids are typical teens who make a wide range of decisions - good and bad. The adults also reflect the usual make-up of any small community.
Keenan and Zarabeth experience the usual ups and downs of a new friendship. As he meet other kids, she feels threatened because she feels excluded. However, Keenan is the one who finds proof that her dog really was murdered and this triggers an entire series of events that lead to them discovering the gangster's hidden treasure.
Each chapter is told from a different character's perspective. Primarily this flips between Keenan and Zarabeth but other characters offer their insights throughout.
July 15, 2026
I CURSE YOU KEENAN. I CURSE YOU FOR JUDGING THAT POUTINE, I CURSE YOUUUU. HAS THIS GUY NOT LIVED IN TONS OF OTHER COUNTRIES?? HE’S PROBABLY TRIED SOO MANY DIFFERENT FOODS, YET DRAWS THE LINE AT FRIES AND GRAVY?? FRIES AND GRAVY????
This was a pretty good book, but just wasn’t as special as some other Gordon Korman books.
Idk why, I couldn’t really get into it. There were a lot of cool things in this book that usually interest me—small islands with rich history, gangsters, the Prohibition era, American and Canadian comparisons, dogs—yet I just didn’t get that invested. There’s something about older GK books that have this charm that always gets me, while his newer books get nearly no feelings out of me. Idk why!! 😭 I mean, this book was still pretty well crafted and written just like his older books, but it feels bland.
Maybe part of it is because it’s a mystery. Older GK books had some elements of mystery, but this book centres around it (lol get it, Centrelight Island). And it doesn’t help that the mystery wasn’t suspeneful for me at all, especially after I predicted the entire thing like halfway through the book 😭 I think near the beginning I already guessed that Barney was murdered because it had something to do with Tommy’s gold. Heh..I guess I’m just a genius 🫣😏 No jk lol I’m just way too old for this book, it was probably really suspenseful and shocking for a 12 year old 😭
Like my last GK review (Snoop) this book didn’t have many characters that I enjoyed a lot. Keenan and ZeeBee are fine, but not that interesting. Honestly..what did Keenan really have going for him when it comes to his personality? 😭 He talks a lot about his time in other countries and his experiences in Shanghai, but that’s it, it’s just talk. Idk to me it didn’t add or change anything about his personality. He’s just a nice dude who has a lot of experiences from other countries, but these experiences never felt like they impacted the story that much. There’s just his tae kwon do, and that’s all. He MENTIONS how he can speak a bunch of languages and other cultural skills he picked up, but it doesn’t add anything to his character, nor does it become relevant to the plot at all after he talks about it. Also, I mentioned this at the beginning, but I actually find his personality versus his established backstory to be contradictory. How come he seems grossed out and, confused? by the poutine when he’s probably tried so many different kinds of food in other countries? If he’s lived in so many places and experienced so much, why is he so cautious about poutine?? I would expect a guy like him, having seen so much, to be open to new things and experiences. Instead, he’s rather judgemental and cautious. It just doesn’t make sense. In fact, how come he doesn’t believe ZeeBee more easily when she’s talking about all the gangsters and history? Surely in all the countries he’s been to, he should have learned more history about different places that are even more crazy. He literally lived in Shanghai, and China has CRAZYY history. Idk but to me, it felt like Keenan’s personality wasn’t really fleshed out. The book focused more on making it seem like he’s been to all these places by reminding us through just words, rather than SHOWING through his actions and personality.
And I don’t dislike ZeeBee, but she also wasn’t that interesting. At some points she pissed me off 🙄 but I guess she did act understandably considering her perspective and what she was going through. I’m talking about her beef with Keenan for a bit in the book, and how she refused to listen to him. She started treating him how others treat her, which is understandable. ZeeBee’s fascination with history and gangsters was fun though. Instead of it just being all talk like Keenan, it reflected in her personality with how curious and determined she is.
But there were a few things I liked about this book. I liked how the spelling of Centrelight changed depending on whether the chapter’s perspective was a Canadian or an American, that was a stupid but funny detail 😭😭😭 I hyped ZeeBee up when she would glaze Canada and slander America, because she’s ABSOLUTELY RIGHT 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 Also, I actually liked Ronnie, and I was really glad that Ronnie and Joey didn’t turn out to be those dumb as hell bully antagonists who would get in the way because they’re stupid kids. I was starting to get worried as the book progressed, I really didn’t want them to just be “oh ZeeBee’s weird so let’s get in her way all the time!!! Keenan too because he’s friends with the weird girl!! Haha we’re gonna take your gold because we’re stupid kids who love money and causing trouble and we only care about causing trouble we don’t care about others!!” Like Aaron and Bear from Restart, but thankfully no! Turns out they do have a heart, and one that calls for justice! I was happy at the end when they jumped out of nowhere to take down Mr Tolenski and saved ZeeBee and Keenan. And I really liked that moment when Ronnie was actually concerned for ZeeBee a bit, even all the way in the middle of the book when ZeeBee and Ronnie were in the fro-yo shop! I’m just so happy to see these kids aren’t literal devils, it’s so refreshing 😭
Also, when Ronnie’s dad appeared, I started to wonder if he was also in an abusive situation like CJ was 💀😭 because his dad was awful. But, I guess not, although his dad is still clearly a terrible dad. Maybe that explains why Ronnie acts the way he does. Honestly after that part in the book, I was hoping that Ronnie would become more important, because he actually seemed like an interesting character with two sides. But no 😔 at least he was still a refreshing character.
Well, now I’m just feeling bummed out, because I fear I’ve read through all of Gordon Korman’s good books now 😭 not that my recent reads were bad, but they are NOT giving the same feelings as when I read his other books. I still have Schooled, Linked, and Slacker which I’ve heard a lot of good things about, but I’m not gonna stay hopeful just so that my expectations aren’t too high 😔 Then I have some of his books made for older audiences, and some of his classics. We’ll see how those turn out to be. I may read Born to Rock next. It’s my first time reading one of his more mature books, so I’m interested in how that’ll be..😣😣😣
This was a pretty good book, but just wasn’t as special as some other Gordon Korman books.
Idk why, I couldn’t really get into it. There were a lot of cool things in this book that usually interest me—small islands with rich history, gangsters, the Prohibition era, American and Canadian comparisons, dogs—yet I just didn’t get that invested. There’s something about older GK books that have this charm that always gets me, while his newer books get nearly no feelings out of me. Idk why!! 😭 I mean, this book was still pretty well crafted and written just like his older books, but it feels bland.
Maybe part of it is because it’s a mystery. Older GK books had some elements of mystery, but this book centres around it (lol get it, Centrelight Island). And it doesn’t help that the mystery wasn’t suspeneful for me at all, especially after I predicted the entire thing like halfway through the book 😭 I think near the beginning I already guessed that Barney was murdered because it had something to do with Tommy’s gold. Heh..I guess I’m just a genius 🫣😏 No jk lol I’m just way too old for this book, it was probably really suspenseful and shocking for a 12 year old 😭
Like my last GK review (Snoop) this book didn’t have many characters that I enjoyed a lot. Keenan and ZeeBee are fine, but not that interesting. Honestly..what did Keenan really have going for him when it comes to his personality? 😭 He talks a lot about his time in other countries and his experiences in Shanghai, but that’s it, it’s just talk. Idk to me it didn’t add or change anything about his personality. He’s just a nice dude who has a lot of experiences from other countries, but these experiences never felt like they impacted the story that much. There’s just his tae kwon do, and that’s all. He MENTIONS how he can speak a bunch of languages and other cultural skills he picked up, but it doesn’t add anything to his character, nor does it become relevant to the plot at all after he talks about it. Also, I mentioned this at the beginning, but I actually find his personality versus his established backstory to be contradictory. How come he seems grossed out and, confused? by the poutine when he’s probably tried so many different kinds of food in other countries? If he’s lived in so many places and experienced so much, why is he so cautious about poutine?? I would expect a guy like him, having seen so much, to be open to new things and experiences. Instead, he’s rather judgemental and cautious. It just doesn’t make sense. In fact, how come he doesn’t believe ZeeBee more easily when she’s talking about all the gangsters and history? Surely in all the countries he’s been to, he should have learned more history about different places that are even more crazy. He literally lived in Shanghai, and China has CRAZYY history. Idk but to me, it felt like Keenan’s personality wasn’t really fleshed out. The book focused more on making it seem like he’s been to all these places by reminding us through just words, rather than SHOWING through his actions and personality.
And I don’t dislike ZeeBee, but she also wasn’t that interesting. At some points she pissed me off 🙄 but I guess she did act understandably considering her perspective and what she was going through. I’m talking about her beef with Keenan for a bit in the book, and how she refused to listen to him. She started treating him how others treat her, which is understandable. ZeeBee’s fascination with history and gangsters was fun though. Instead of it just being all talk like Keenan, it reflected in her personality with how curious and determined she is.
But there were a few things I liked about this book. I liked how the spelling of Centrelight changed depending on whether the chapter’s perspective was a Canadian or an American, that was a stupid but funny detail 😭😭😭 I hyped ZeeBee up when she would glaze Canada and slander America, because she’s ABSOLUTELY RIGHT 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 Also, I actually liked Ronnie, and I was really glad that Ronnie and Joey didn’t turn out to be those dumb as hell bully antagonists who would get in the way because they’re stupid kids. I was starting to get worried as the book progressed, I really didn’t want them to just be “oh ZeeBee’s weird so let’s get in her way all the time!!! Keenan too because he’s friends with the weird girl!! Haha we’re gonna take your gold because we’re stupid kids who love money and causing trouble and we only care about causing trouble we don’t care about others!!” Like Aaron and Bear from Restart, but thankfully no! Turns out they do have a heart, and one that calls for justice! I was happy at the end when they jumped out of nowhere to take down Mr Tolenski and saved ZeeBee and Keenan. And I really liked that moment when Ronnie was actually concerned for ZeeBee a bit, even all the way in the middle of the book when ZeeBee and Ronnie were in the fro-yo shop! I’m just so happy to see these kids aren’t literal devils, it’s so refreshing 😭
Also, when Ronnie’s dad appeared, I started to wonder if he was also in an abusive situation like CJ was 💀😭 because his dad was awful. But, I guess not, although his dad is still clearly a terrible dad. Maybe that explains why Ronnie acts the way he does. Honestly after that part in the book, I was hoping that Ronnie would become more important, because he actually seemed like an interesting character with two sides. But no 😔 at least he was still a refreshing character.
Well, now I’m just feeling bummed out, because I fear I’ve read through all of Gordon Korman’s good books now 😭 not that my recent reads were bad, but they are NOT giving the same feelings as when I read his other books. I still have Schooled, Linked, and Slacker which I’ve heard a lot of good things about, but I’m not gonna stay hopeful just so that my expectations aren’t too high 😔 Then I have some of his books made for older audiences, and some of his classics. We’ll see how those turn out to be. I may read Born to Rock next. It’s my first time reading one of his more mature books, so I’m interested in how that’ll be..😣😣😣
January 26, 2020
Keenan, recuperating from TB picked up on world travels with his mom & stepdad in foreign places like Lesotho and Shanghai, is living with his dad on unusual Centrelight Island, smack on the US-Canadian border. Since he is forced to recover his energy and stamina by sitting in his backyard, Zarabeth (Zeebee) and her little dog, Barney 2 are his only friends. She passes the time by telling him stories of the Prohibition Era gangsters who used the island as a base for their smuggling and the legend of Tommy-Gun Ferguson's supposedly hidden gold. After all, she does live in his former house. But, she's also consumed by the idea that her huge pest of a 200 lb. Barney 1 dog was murdered, and Keenan helps her investigate as he recovers his health. Red herrings abound in this middle-grade mystery, as do glimpses of budding friendships and authentic small town community. And even though Keenan "sometimes sounds like a guidance counselor," he makes a spectacular friend.
May 9, 2020
An unlikely friendship grows between Keenan, whose TB requires him to recover quietly in his dad's backyard, and Zarabeth, a local girl full of conspiracy theories about her dead dog and the mob. It takes place on an island that is half Canadian and half American. It has a decent amount of humor and mystery along with normal Korman hijinks and quirky characters.
I have to say, this one didn't grab me the way other Korman books have, so if you have a young reader who likes rather silly but still smart books, go find one of the other ones. Unless, as is possible with these voracious young readers, they've read all of Korman's books, and perhaps also those by Dan Gutman and Andrew Clements. In that case, this will be welcome.
I have to say, this one didn't grab me the way other Korman books have, so if you have a young reader who likes rather silly but still smart books, go find one of the other ones. Unless, as is possible with these voracious young readers, they've read all of Korman's books, and perhaps also those by Dan Gutman and Andrew Clements. In that case, this will be welcome.
March 6, 2021
Gordon Korman does his usual great job portraying young 7th-graders dealing with a difficult situation. Keenan is recovering from tuberculosis and is bored out of his mind, sitting on a chair at his father's house on Centerlight Island, straddling the US Canadian border.
Zarabeth, known as 'ZeeBee' is ostracized by her peers because 1) she's Canadian and they're US; 2) she's a monomaniac about gangster history; 3) her dog terrorized the whole island. Then the dog suddenly died. ZeeBee is sure he was killed.
Keenan is her unwilling listener, but finds himself interested in spite of everything. And the quest to find ZeeBee's dog killer begins.
Filled with humor and normal adolescent foibles, this story will entertain anyone from teen and upward.
Zarabeth, known as 'ZeeBee' is ostracized by her peers because 1) she's Canadian and they're US; 2) she's a monomaniac about gangster history; 3) her dog terrorized the whole island. Then the dog suddenly died. ZeeBee is sure he was killed.
Keenan is her unwilling listener, but finds himself interested in spite of everything. And the quest to find ZeeBee's dog killer begins.
Filled with humor and normal adolescent foibles, this story will entertain anyone from teen and upward.
April 18, 2020
Middle school; disappointing middle grade mystery about friends Keenan and Zarabeth trying to piece together her dog’s sudden death on Centrelight, an island on a lake on the border between Michigan and Canada. The plot and characters are interesting and I would’ve loved to have seen more development of both; the problem is that nothing happens until about 200 pages into the book. Around page 250, the action really steps up and the story is over around page 300. I’ve loved Korman’s books in the past but this one felt thin and dragged out, which is a shame because the premise is solid.
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